A Letter To The Priest Who Refused Joe Biden Holy Communion

After reading a number of rather sensationalistic news stories about a Roman Catholic priest who refused to serve Joe Biden communion because of his pro-abortion position, I thought I would write the priest a personal note of encouragement.  And I did!  (you’ll find my email below).  In the meantime, here are a few thoughts about the Biden-communion hullabaloo: 
 
To begin with, holding a pro-abortion position not only places Biden (a Roman Catholic) at odds with official Catholic dogma, but also well outside of the historic and biblical affirmations of Christianity as a whole.  For example, the  6th commandment is clear to all Christians, unmistakably so.  Therefore, if a person claims to be the servant of a God who says, “thou shalt not kill,” and yet goes on to openly promote the death and dismemberment of society’s most vulnerable persons, the credibility of that person’s profession should be called into serious question.  In a word, you can’t be an unrepentant killer and a Christian - and that is the primary point here.  If you are not a Christian, as evidenced by your own words, actions, and flagrant disobedience to God’s clear commands, you have no participation in Christ, despite your claims to the contrary...  and if you are not Christ’s you simply do not have a seat at His table.
 
No. I do not expect the secularists in the media to understand the points raised above (much less agree with them.) I do find it a little odd, however, that they all suddenly seem to know how the priest should have administered the sacrament.  What he should have done.  What he shouldn’t have done. Suddenly the commentators at CNN are all talking like they went to seminary or something and it would be humorous were it not so arrogant.  Who are these opponents of Christ to instruct us in the Christian faith?  Who are they to act as spiritual physicians, mending the supposed cuts and scrapes on Christ’s body?  To them I simply say, physician heal thyself and stop acting like you know the church better than the Lord’s own people do.  Also I would say to Christians always be suspicious when secularists start talking theology.  
 
Be that as it may, the general consensus of the media at this point seems to be that poor Mr. Biden has been somehow mistreated by a priest named Rev. Robert Morey, who is obviously little more than an intolerant and fanatical religious zealot. To put it simply, the media is pushing the narrative that Biden is the victim of a great religious disservice.    
 
Allow me to challenge this narrative.  
 
I say that far from doing Biden a disservice in refusing him communion, Rev. Morey was actually doing him a very great & important service. (I’ll pause until you get over the shock of what I just said there....  Ready to move forward?  Good.  Here we go.) 
 
For one thing the Bible is clear that it is highly dangerous to partake of the sacrament in an unworthy manner.  The Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians actually says:   "For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died."  (1 Corinthians 11:29-30)  Just in case you missed it please re-read the last three words of that verse...  SOME.... HAVE.....  DIED.... Whatever else we might learn from the Apostle’s statement we at least learn this, that the judgment of God – perhaps even resulting in death – falls upon those who partake of the sacrament amiss. In light of this, rather than playing the part of the victim, perhaps Biden should thank Rev. Morey for having prevented him from stumbling into God’s judgment.  Where the media, and perhaps Biden himself, only see an overzealous priest, I see a man who compassionately restrained a fool from trifling with the Holy things of God...  A God whose wrath burns against the kind of hypocrisy, arrogance, and presumption that Biden displayed when he attempted to receive the sacrament in the first place.
 
But another reason that Rev. Morey has actually done Biden a great service is because by the act of refusing him Holy Communion, Morey was making a powerful statement without even speaking a word...  one that Biden and other abortion advocates need to get clearly in their minds... For Biden the priest's actions would have said something like this: “Mr. Biden, you may be a very important man in the kingdoms of earth but your actions and beliefs would indicate that you are no citizen of the Kingdom of God.  You sir, are an ardent advocate of death, you are a promoter of murder, and you are a defacer of that which has been made in God’s image and likeness. Furthermore you are the friend of godless selfish women who are so blinded by the deceit and hypocrisy of the devil that they slaughter their own babies while confusedly claiming that their death-sentence is a matter of  ‘human rights.’ Having risen to an exalted position in this country you have used your power and influence, not to advance Christ's kingdom, but to spread darkness and death and to encourage the moral insanity that now surrounds us...  As such, Mr. Biden, only a madman or a fool would consider you a Christian.  And only a hypocrite of a priest with no fear of God would serve you at the Lord's table. For you, sir, are not in communion with Christ's body, the Church...  And I will not pretend otherwise." 
 
To my mind, all of these things were said, and perhaps more as well, the moment the priest refused Holy Communion to Mr. Biden.  
 
If Biden is wise he will see the import of these things.  If he is wise he will turn from his sin.  If he is wise he will publicly repent of his hypocrisy. If he is wise Biden will turn from his presumption to a Savior who stands ready to forgive him, cleanse him, and restore him to the Lord’s own eternal kingdom.  And if Biden does that, Catholic or not, I, for one, would not hinder him from coming to the Lord’s table.  After all, what he will find there is exactly what a world of fools and hypocrites desperately need.  What he will find there is medicine for the poor, sick soul.  What he will find there is Christ. 
 
 


 
Below is the email I sent to Rev. Robert E. Morey, the priest at the center of this controversy.  It was intended to encourage him.  I haven’t heard back from him but I welcome your feedback should you have any.
 
Dear Rev. Morey,
 
I read today of your courage in refusing  Holy Communion to Mr. Biden, a very powerful man and a very public figure.  I commend you for having done that which was difficult but correct.  Though I, as  a  Presbyterian minister realize that there are a number of points at which you and I would not agree, I nevertheless heartily endorse your statement:  “Any public figure who advocates for abortion places himself outside of Church teaching.”
 
Perhaps the media whirlwind in these days will weigh heavily upon you but rest assured, you have sought to honor Christ by demonstrating ministerial integrity.  (Oh, that we Protestants would do the same!) And the promise of the Lord to His faithful is “those who honor me I will honor."
 
My prayer for you in these days as you face public scrutiny and false accusations from the mouths of unbelievers is that you may draw support and comfort from St. Peter’s exhortation:
 
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith…  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  
(1 Peter 5:8-11)
 
 
Every blessing to you.
yours,
 
-Rev. R Crabtree
All Souls Church
Green Camp, Ohio
www.allsoulschurch.us